University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

Dr. Paul Furtaw, Psy.D.
Director of Student Health and Counseling 

Dr. Furtaw has been affiliated with SHAC since January 2004, becoming a full time employee in September 2004, and assuming the Director role in July 2006.  He is a licensed Psychologist and earned his doctorate from Rutgers University Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, with additional training in Organizational Psychology and Program Evaluation.  Dr. Furtaw has worked in a variety of human service settings over the past 19 years including college counseling (multiple campuses of Rutgers University), developmental disorders (the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Developmental Disorders Program), and psychiatric settings (the State of New Jersey Psychiatric Hospital in Trenton, Tompkins Community Hospital in Ithaca, NY, and Harvard Medical School-Cambridge Hospital Day Treatment Services).  His current professional interests include college counseling and university-based program consultation, with a special emphasis on health psychology and behavioral medicine.

Dr. Karen Levinson, Ph.D. 
Assistant Director, Counseling
and Coordinator of Graduate Training

Dr. Levinson has been affiliated with SHAC since January 2004, becoming a full time employee in August 2004.  She works as a staff psychologist and coordinates the graduate student training program which is staffed by practicum students.  Dr. Levinson earned her degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Delaware, and is a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Pennsylvania.   She has worked in a variety of settings including college counseling (University of Delaware and Temple University), Friends Hospital, and community mental health centers (Northwestern Human Services and Community Council For Mental Health and Mental Retardation).

Dr. Alissa Brown, Psy.D.

Dr. Brown is a Staff Psychologist at SHAC. She received her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Chestnut Hill College. In addition, she has a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and Human Services from Chestnut Hill College. Alissa completed her pre-doctoral internship at the University of Rochester counseling center, and Postdoctoral Fellowship at USP. In addition to university counseling, she has worked in a variety of settings including outpatient mental health, medical and psychiatric hospitals, public schools, and private practice. Alissa’s areas of interest include anxiety, body image and eating disorders, interpersonal relationships, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as well as campus outreach and consultation.

Evie Gerber, M.A.

Evie is a staff psychologist at SHAC. She is also completing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). In addition, Evie received her Master’s Degree in Psychology from the College of William & Mary.  Evie comes to USciences with a familiarity with university culture having completed a pre-doctoral internship at the College of William & Mary Counseling Center and further training at Towson University Counseling Center. Evie also has experience working in a psychiatric inpatient setting, a domestic violence center, and a community mental health center in Baltimore. Evie’s areas of professional interest include anxiety, depression, family of origin concerns, stress management, transition concerns (e.g., first year, transfer, graduation), values clarification, and working with survivors of trauma. Outside of work and school, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, as well as hiking and getting out in nature.

Alicia Miller, Health Information Data Analyst

Alicia graduated from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts with a BA in Psychology. She is currently pursuing her MS in Health Psychology at USciences part time while simultaneously working full time at SHAC. She manages all aspects of the Student Health Insurance Plan including enrollment, waivers, and education about benefits and accessing services; as well as coordinating counseling center client scheduling and registration. She has a strong interest in biological psychology – how biological, psychological, environmental, and cultural factors are involved in physical health, which translates into her work on health promotion. Alicia's dual role as a student and staff member allows her to better understand student needs/thoughts/beliefs and helps her to interact with them efficiently and perform as a student advocate to promote SHAC services and to help get students useful information and resources.

Dr. John Applegate , M.D., Consulting Psychiatrist.

Dr. Applegate received his training in Psychiatry at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and before that his medical degree from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey. While in residency he worked at the University of Pennsylvania’s counseling center. Since graduation he has been working at the Philadelphia Veteran’s Hospital outpatient mental health clinic and maintains a private practice in Center City as well. He serves as a volunteer faculty member of the University of Pennsylvania teaching medical students and residents in Psychiatry. His areas of professional interest include the management of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and understanding the relevance of cultural and spiritual dimensions of mental health concerns.

Aliece Chen, M.S.

Aliece is a 4th year doctoral student in the Psy.D program in Clinical Psychology at Chestnut Hill College.  She obtained her Master of Science Degree in Clinical Psychology from Chestnut Hill College and her Master of Divinity in Counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary.   Aliece has experience working with children, adolescents, and their families in both individual and family therapy. She worked with terminally ill patients and their families and in an adult residential treatment in Center City with dual diagnosed clients struggling with substance addiction and other clinical disorders.  Aliece is particularly interested in issues related to interpersonal and intergenerational relationship, trauma, grief and loss, drug and alcohol addiction, depression, anxiety, and domestic violence.  

Debby Michelman, Sc.M.

Debby is currently working on a Master’s degree in School and Mental Health Counseling at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Vassar College and a Master’s degree in Public Health Education from Johns Hopkins University. Debby has worked in a variety of settings including health departments, hospitals and schools. She has a particular interest in working with young adults on issues such as depression, anxiety and relationships. Her additional interests include career counseling and spirituality within the counseling context.

Andrea McNulty, M.A.

After earning her MA in Classical Studies from the University of Maryland, Andrea worked for several years until she began volunteering as a counselor helping survivors of sexual assault and their loved ones at a local rape crisis center.  This experience had such a profound impact on her that she decided to pursue her M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology at Temple University which she will complete in May 2012.   She is interested in women’s issues, body image and eating disorders, mindfulness, exercise therapy, stress and anxiety, depression, adjustment concerns, trauma and multicultural counseling.